Finding the right gift for gamers and geeks can be a headache, not just for major holidays but year-round. It’s especially troublesome if you are not one of the aforementioned yourself. Not to mention, tech is constantly evolving and there is always something new on the market. As soon as a product is put on the market, an upgrade of that product emerges.

Selecting the best gift for your person takes more effort than just putting a gift in a basket. There’s a lot to consider if you truly care about who you are picking out a gift for.

Tips for Choosing the Right Gift

When choosing the right gift for your favorite person(s) it’s important to think about what they want. Put yourself in their shoes. Really think about what it is that you would like for others to consider when selecting a gift for you. Whether you’re looking for the best tech gifts for a gamer or just looking for a gift for your favorite person in general, here are a few foolproof tips for selecting the perfect gift.

• Pay attention to what they already have. Is their home or personal space filled with a certain type of memorabilia? Is there a particular color scheme? It’s important to notice what they already have because you don’t want to buy someone a Marvel Funko Pop when all they have in their space is DC Funko Pops.

• Observe their preferences. Do they prefer over-the-ear headphones or earbuds when listening to music?

• Listen to them. More often than not, they’ve already mentioned something that they want or need. They could have mentioned something in passing. Or they could have complained about needing something in particular that they can’t seem to find or haven’t had the time to get. If it’s within your means, get it for them.

• Ask them outright what they want. Some people love surprises. Some people don’t. Either way, it never hurts to ask someone what they want. You can take a direct approach and ask. Or you can ask in a roundabout way.

Buying the Best Audio Tech Gifts

When it comes to audio technology, buying the least expensive gift you can find will likely backfire. While it’s true not all expensive gifts are great, you want to look at a few things. Research will go a long way in selecting amazing headphones, earbuds, or a gaming headset.

• Figure out what you’re looking for. Headphones, headset, earbuds, etc.

• Do you want corded or wireless connectivity or the ability to do both?

• What is comfortable for you or the person you are buying a gift for?

• Look up reviews.

• Look at the technology being used.

• Look at what the product is made of.

Consider if the product is in your price range. If it’s not, look for alternatives using the same or similar technology with good user reviews.

Headphones

One of the best gifts for someone who is into tech and is always on the move is the Bose QuietComfort® 45 headphones. Of all the Bluetooth headphones I’ve had, these are my favorites. The Bose QuietComfort headphones feel super light and comfy. The noise cancellation with Quiet Mode is top-tier and so is its Aware Mode. Phone calls on both ends are crisp and clear with a noise-rejection mic system.

And listening to music on with QuietComfort feels divine. They’re very lightweight and the fit isn’t too tight or too loose. They even stayed put on my head during an unexpected sprint after my runaway pup.

The QuietComfort headphones officially have a 22-hour charge, although, they’ve lasted longer than without the need to recharge. These hi-fi headphones come in three colors: black, midnight blue, and eclipse gray.

Earbuds

Bose also makes the most comfortable earbuds I’ve ever used, Bose QuietComfort® Earbuds II. I’ve typically had issues with earbuds not staying in or feeling very uncomfortable. But not these. Like the QuietComfort headphones, the sound and noise canceling are superb.

The QuietComfort Earbuds may look a bit bulky compared to other earbuds like Apple Airpods, but they still look sleek. They have soft ear tips so it doesn’t feel as if you’re sticking rocks in your ear. They also have stability bands that come in three sizes for better customization to your ears.

Gaming Headset

If your gamer is an audiophile or a serious gamer into full immersion, Audeze is the leader in 3D audio technology. They’ve created gaming headphones for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation consoles. An Audeze gaming headset would make a great gift. Even though there are different gaming headsets for different platforms, they all take advantage of Audeze’s planar magnetic technology to overcome audio limitations. Before experiencing Audeze’s planar magnetic technology, I was oblivious to the small nuances of sounds in games outside of footprints and raindrops. After experiencing such pinpoint accurate directional sound, I can never go back to gaming headphones with regular technology.

• Mobius Spatial Audio Gaming Headset. The Audeze Mobius Spatial Audio headphones are top-tier. Though Mobius was designed especially for PC gaming, it can also be used with Xbox Series and PlayStation 5 via Bluetooth or a controller.

• LCD-GX Open-Back Gaming Headset. The LCD-GX is designed based on Audeze’s flagship LCD headphones used by musicians and audiophiles. Audeze’s high-end headset was specifically designed for serious PC gaming. It comes with a 1/8” TRRS conductor plug to use with almost all PCs, Mac computers, mobile phones, and consoles. However, I wouldn’t recommend using them with consoles.

• Maxwell Wireless Gaming Headset. The Maxwell Wireless Gaming Headset has two models: one specifically designed for the PlayStation 5 and the other headset designed for the Xbox Series. Maxwell is Audeze’s newest edition to their gaming headset family, Maxwell offers a truly wireless experience without sacrificing audio immersion. It has an 80+ hour battery life with a quick charge of just 20 minutes to full.

Tees, Toys, and Memorabilia

More adults are buying toys for themselves, keeping the toymaking industry alive and kicking. Market research by Mattel and Lego found that “grownups are the ones dropping $850 on a 7,541-piece Star Wars Millennium Falcon Lego set or $400 on neon He-Man action figures designed by the artist MADSAKI.” So when you’re thinking about buying your gamer or geek friend a tech gift, it doesn’t have to be an outright tech object. It can be tech-adjacent or something geeky. And one thing a geek or gamer can never get enough of is a really good tee from their favorite game, show, or franchise.

Tees

Some of our favorite, officially licensed graphic tees come from Hot Topic. You can also find anime and pop culture-inspired tees and sweatshirts from RIPT Apparel. Their artists create pop culture mashup designs that are sure to be fun conversation pieces that look good.

Toys

Toynk has amazing gift ideas that are officially licensed. They have goodies from geek and pop culture franchises from gaming, tv, and anime like this Monster Hunter World jigsaw puzzle. Want to give your favorite geek something to help them organize? How about a Halo Ammo Crate storage bin organizer? Or maybe you want to help your loved one spruce up their office space with a pop culture-themed mini planter with artificial succulents. And this Minecraft Diamond Sword lamp can brighten any mood. Toynk really has something for everyone.

Memorabilia

Memorabilia is anything that can be collected for the sake of historical nostalgia. It can be related to a historical event or historical pop culture. Memorabilia can be anything like tees, toys, and what-have-you. It can also be a Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Elder Wand Handbag.

Gift-giving isn’t just for the holidays, it’s for any day you want to make your special person feel loved, appreciated, and seen. No matter which type of gift you choose, your person will love it if it comes from the heart. Just a little thought and consideration can go a very long way.